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This fall in Chicago’s Union Square Park, Donda’s House, a nonprofit organization designed to expose inner-city kids to arts education, and Common’s Common Ground Foundation hosted the annual AAHH! Music Festival.

Acclaimed musician Kanye West donated a portion of his proceeds from his recent Louis Vuitton Foundation concert series to the Chicago community organization named in honor of his late mother, Dr. Donda West. The donation of $133,000 is a record for Donda’s House, whose mission is to honor the educational legacy of Dr. Donda West by implementing arts and literature experiences that transform the lives of youth.

Donnie Smith, the Executive Director of Donda’s House, expressed her gratitude saying, “Kanye’s generosity is greatly appreciated and will improve our capacity with new staff as we deliver the high-quality arts programming that our participants deserve.”

An iconic musician, Mr. West is also noted for his design work in the fashion industry, including his relationship with the Louis Vuitton Fashion House and the Louis Vuitton Foundation. To close Paris Fashion Week, Mr. West performed four stunning concerts on March 7-10, 2015 on the outskirts of Paris in the Bois de Boulogne and quickly announced his donation to Donda’s House.

Che “Rhymefest” Smith, the Creative Director of Donda’s House & longtime friend & collaborator of Mr. West said, “I really cannot thank Kanye enough for this incredible contribution. His leadership has enabled Donda’s House to grow quickly and impact the lives of over 160 of Chicago’s young people already in our short history. This is a great honor and a true tribute to his mother’s legacy, who did so much for young artists.”

For more Info on Donda’s House and how to get involved/volunteer visit.

On January 10, 2015 Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation teamed up with nonprofit Donda’s House in Chicago at Chicago Cultural Center for an event called Behind The Mic with Big Sean. The event was hosted by Kevin Coval from Young Chicago Authors and Rhymefest from Donda’s House. Behind The Mic included performance from young artists from Chicago performing for Big Sean and an in depth discussion with Big Sean about his success, challenges in the business, and advice on the industry.

Artists like Chance The Rapper dropped by to support the event and praised Big Sean for his sit down with the kids! The Chicago rapper posted on this on his instagram:

“This man came to the city and sat down with the kids. I admire it so much. Please write an article about it, tweet about it talk about it. This is what we respect and expect. Thanks so much Big Sean, thank you Young Chicago Authors, thank you DONDA, thank you Rhymefest, thank you DLow, Thank you Chicago Cultural Center and thank you Free Spirit Media. #LongLiveTheYoung”

In April, Black Youth Project reported that Common’s Common Ground Foundation and Kanye’s Donda’s House teamed up with the Chicago Urban League to create more than 20,000 jobs for teens in Chicago.

Common stated at a press conference, “Obviously, one of the biggest reasons our kids are going through what they’re going through is because of poverty. I was doing an event in the neighborhood and there were some kids from Englewood and I said, ‘Man, what do y’all really need? What’s gonna stop this?’ And they were like, ‘We need money. Man, if we could work.’ They want a chance.”

This partnership will result in the launch of the AAHH! FEST, according to FUSE, that will take place this year in Chicago on September 20-21.

Looks like these two Chicagoans have not forgotten where they’ve come from and are doing their part to empower and inspire teens in Chicago.